Safety overcap for easy opening container

ABSTRACT

A safety overcap for an easy opening container having an end closure with a tear portion defined by a score line and a pull tab secured to the tear portion by an integral rivet. The overcap includes a panel and a peripheral flange adapted to be detachably snap fitted over the seam of the container. The overcap is formed with a slot having co-acting pull tab for removing the tear strip and a position permitting tilting of the pull tab.

United States Patent [191 Hougen et a].

[11] 3,826,400 July 30, 1974 SAFETY OVERCAP FOR EASY OPENING CONTAINER [75] Inventors: Gary A. Hougen, Palatine; Henry F.

Kloc, Plainfield, both of I11. 3

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, NY.

22 Filed: Aug. 31, 1972 21 App1.No.:2 85,161

521 u.s.c| 220/29, 220/27Q220/60 R, v215/9 51 Int. Cl ..B65d51/l8 [58] Field of Search 220/27, 29, 60 R, 47, 90.6; 215/46 A, 9, 46 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS. 3,204,805 9/1965 May... 220/24 R 3,419,181 12/1968 Stec ..220/29X Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn J. Kowalik; Joseph E. Kerwin; William A. Dittman [57] ABSTRACT A safety overcap for an easy opening container having an end closure with a tear portion defined by a score line and a pull tab secured to the tear portion by an integral rivet. The overcap includes a panel and 21 peripheral flange adapted to be detachably snap fitted over the seam of the container. The overcap is formed with a slothaving co-acting pull tab for removing the tear strip and a position-permitting tilting of the pull tab.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Pmmtm w I 3.826.400

SHEET 1 BF 3 II I I llll SAFETY OVERCAP FOR EASY OPENING CONTAINER BACKGROUND AND'SUMMA'RY or THE INVENTION LII erative to separate the tear strip from the end panel to form a pour opening.

The present invention isparticularly concerned with a means for preventing the inadvertant or accidental opening of the container so that the contents may not be accidentally consumed. This is a problem when the contents of the container are of the toxic or poisonous type and a child hasaccess thereto. Underthese conditions, the child may open the easy opening container and become seriously ill. The present invention is concerned with the provision of an overcap which requires manipulation before the pull tabcan be tilted to a position for opening the container.

The overcap of the present invention comprises generally a cover panel having a-peripheral flange which is adapted 7 to detachably snap fit and be turnably mounted on the double seam formed by double seaming the end closure to the container. The cover panel includes means operative in one position for precluding access to the pull tab thereby to prevent tilting of the latter into a position for opening the container. In one 2 restrained against the end closure so that the tear strip may not be opened.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the flap removed to make the pull tab accessible so that the tear strip may be removed. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 10-10 of FIG. 8.

. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken through the longitudinal center of the container and safety overcap mounted-thereon and showing the position of the flap prior to being removed from the overcap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now totheembodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown an easy opening container 10 comprising generally a container body 11 to which anend closure 12 is attached by means of a double seam 13. Detachably secured to the double seam or rim 13 is an overcap l4 madefrom plastic or the like. The overcap 14 includes a central cover panel portion 16 and a peripheral groove .17 defined by adownwardly depending flange 18. The flange '18 may have an inwardly projecting lip 19 underlying the double seam 13. The

form of the invention, the cover panel is-provided with a slot covered by a hinged flap overlying the tear portion and pull tab. In another form, the cover panel is provided with a slot and the overcap is rotatably mounted so that in one angular position; the pull tab underlies the cover panel and in a second angular position wherein the tab lies in the slot so as to be capable of being tilted to a position for removing the tear por tIon. a

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an easy opening container showing a safety overcap incorporating the structure of the present invention and positioned to prevent manipulation of the pull tab for opening the container.

FIG. 2 is atopplan view similar to FIG. I but showing the overcap in a position wherein the tab is capable of being manipulated for removing the tearstrip.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 33 of FIG. I.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a container showing another embodiment of safety closure with the safety closure shown in a position preventing manipulation of the pull tab so that the tear portion may not be removed.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the overcap in a position for removing the tear portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 6 -6 of FIG. 4.

flange l8 and lip 19 are resilient so as' to snap fit over the double seam l3 and-thereby maintain the overcap detachably fastened to the container 10. At thesame time, theovercap 14 is also rotatable on'the end closure12. g w

, The. end closure 12 includes an end panel 20 'provided with an easy opening structure in the form 'ofa score line 21 defining a substantially tear drop shape tear portion or strip 22. Fixed to the narrow end of the tear portion 22 by an integral rivet 23 is apulltab 24. The pull-tab 24 is of substantially standard construction including a finger grip 26 and a pair of fulcrum legs 27-27 about which the pull tab 24 is tilted to separate the tear portion 22 from the end panel 20 of the end closure 12. In the embodiment shown, the end panel 20 is provided with aplurality of angularly spaced detents 29 seatably within complementary an'gularly spaced de- V pressions 30'formed onv the underside of the cover panel 16.

' The cover panel 16 is provided with asubs'tantially rectangular slot 32 extending diametrically across the overcap. The slot 32 is sufficiently wide to accommodate the tear strip 22 and a pull tab 24 therein so that thejpull tab may be tilted upwardly about the fulcrum legs 27-27 to separate the tear strip 22 from the end panel 20 when it isdesired to-open the container.

The underside of the cover panel 16 is provided-with an arcuate recess 33 which is adapted to overlie the tinger grip 26 of the pull tab 24 as shown for example in FIGS. land 3. At least a portion of the finger grip 26 of the pull tab 24 is accommodated within the recess 33 when the'overcap 14 is rotated and the slot 32 is;lo-

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an easy opening container of a further embodiment of safety overcap with the overcap shown in a position wherein the pull tab is held cated substantially normal to the tear strip 22 and pull tab 24 as shown in FIG. 1. The overcap 14 is restrained in this position by thespaced detents 29 seated in the complementary spaced depressions 30. In FIG. 1 as described above, the pull tab 24 is partially received within the recess 33 so that access thereto for tilting the latter is not possible. When it is desired to open the container 10, the overcap 14 is rotated to-the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the slot 32 is axially aligned with the tear portion 22 andthe pull tab 24 so that access may be had thereto for tilting the pull tab 24 and removing the tear strip 22 in the normal manner;

The overcap coverpanel 116 is formed with a slot 132 which accommodates the tear portion 22 and the pull tab 24 when the overcap is turned so that the slot 132 is alignedwith the tear portion 22 and pull tab as shown in FIG. 5. in the normal non-use position, the pull tab 24 is'turned about'the rivet 23 to a position generally normal to the longitudinalaxis of the tear portion 22. The pull tab 24 is restrained in this position by a detent 130 which engages one side of the tab 24.

- The end of the pull tab 24 is accommodated within a recess 133 formed on the underside of the cover panel 116. The recess prevents access toithe pull tab for tilting the latter into a positionfor opening or removing the tear strip 22. 4 V

1 To open the container, the edge of the'pull tab 24 adjacent the detent 130 is lifted slightly so as to clear the v latter. The overcap 114 is thereafter rotated counter- 4 along one side thereof and extending downwardly for the full length of the flange 219 on the other side. The slits 231-231 form a flap 232 which may be of lesser thickness than the remainder of the cover panel-216 and is hinged about a reduced section 233 as shown. The flap 232 is sufficiently thin to accommodate the thickness of the pull ,tab 24 when it lies flush with the remainder of the upper surface of the cover panel 216.

Projecting from the outer end of the flap 232 a downwardly depending finger grip tab 234. Spaced inwardly from the finger grip tab 234 is a second flange 236 which co-acts with the tab 234 to releasably embrace the double seam 13. Removal of the flap 232 by tearing along the reduced section 233 provides a slot 237 through which the tear portion 22 and pull tab 24 are accessible. After removal or lifting of the flap 232,

, the tab 24 may be tilted upwardly so as to remove the clockwise in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The pull tab 24 seated within the recess is caused to turn about the rivet 23 to the position shown in FIG. 5 in alignment with the tear portion 22. Thereafter, the overcap 114 is rotated clockwise to its original position shown in FIG. 4. The pull tab 24 is now in a position for lifting or tilting so that it may be rocked about its fulcrum legs 27-27 to open the container by severing the score line 21 and separating the tear strip 22 from the end panel 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 11 there is shown still another embodiment of a safety overcap arrangement. The'safety overcap arrangement 214 comprises gener ally a cover panel 216 havingan outer peripheral flange 218 terminating in an inwardly projecting lip 219. The flange 218 and lip 219 define a slot 217 which accommodates the double seam 13 therein when the overcap 214 is snap fitted thereon. v i

The cover panel 216 is provided with a pair of narrow slits 23123l terminating adjacent the flange 218 tear portion 22 from the end panel 20.

What is claimed is: 1

1. A safety overcap for an easy opening container having a tear strip defined by a score line and a pull tab secured by an integral rivet to the tear strip for removing the same, said safety overcap comprising a cover panel and a peripheral flange adapted to snap fit over the end seam of the container, said cover panel having a slot through which said pull tab is accessible for tilting movement, and means coacting with said slot movable between a position rendering said pull tab inaccessible for separating said tear strip from said container and a position rendering said pull tab accessible whereby said pull tab may be tilted for separating said tear strip from said container.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a flap hingedly secured to'said panel and movable between a position above said panel and a position co-extensive with said panei.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said flap is removable from said overcap. r

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said overcap is turnabie on said end seam. said panel includes a recess on the underside thereof communicating with said slot, said recess accommodating said pull tab therein in one angular position of said-overcap so as to preclude tilting thereof and being clear of said pull tab in a second angular position of said overcap.

- 5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said overcap includes detent means co-acting with means on the container for restraining free relative turning of said overcap. 

1. A safety overcap for an easy opening container having a tear strip defined by a score line and a pull tab secured by an integral rivet to the tear strip for removing the same, said safety overcap comprising a cover panel and a peripheral flange adapted to snap fit over the end seam of the container, said cover panel having a slot through which said pull tab is accessible for tilting movement, and means coacting with said slot movable between a position rendering said pull tab inaccessible for separating said tear strip from said container and a position rendering said pull tab accessible whereby said pull tab may be tilted for separating said tear strip from said container.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a flap hingedly secured to said panel and movable between a position above said panel and a position co-extensive with said panel.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said flap is removable from said overcap.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said overcap is turnable on said end seam, said panel includes a recess on the underside thereof cOmmunicating with said slot, said recess accommodating said pull tab therein in one angular position of said overcap so as to preclude tilting thereof and being clear of said pull tab in a second angular position of said overcap.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said overcap includes detent means co-acting with means on the container for restraining free relative turning of said overcap. 